Final 2023 NFL Cornerback Rankings: Sauce Gardner retains his place as the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL | NFL News, Rankings and Statistics
• The one and only Sauce Gardner: The Jets cornerback earned the second-best coverage grade (90.8) at the position and ranked first among his peers when it came to preventing separation on all routes.
• Jaylon Johnson‘s exceptional year: Johnson made the most of a contract year and delivered an absolutely stellar season. The Bears cornerback finished first in coverage grade and third in SCOE, and his all-around performance in coverage was a major factor for the Bears’ late-season post-season push.
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Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
If quarterback is the most important position on the football field, then limiting the effectiveness of that player is the most important thing a defense can do.
A team can do this in two ways: It can pressure the passer to disrupt his timing, rhythm and accuracy, or it can shut down the opposing receivers.
These rankings will combine PFF coverage grades with our Successful Coverage Over Expected (SCOE) data, which looks at how well each coverage defender performed on non-targeted coverage snaps, as we grade every coverage defender’s ability to prevent separation whether they are targeted on the play or not.
Here are the top 32 cornerbacks for the 2023 season through Week 18. For more grades and statistics on the league’s best cornerbacks, check out PFF Premium Stats.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REGULAR SEASON
Best overall coverage defender: Sauce Gardner, New York Jets
Gardner followed up a ridiculous rookie season with another stellar campaign, retaining his place as the No. 1 cornerback in the NFL.
He earned the second-best coverage grade (90.8) at the position and ranked first among his peers when it came to preventing separation on all routes. He also allowed the second-fewest yards per cover snap (0.44) and finished third in forced incompletion rate (21.1%) and fourth in first downs allowed (11).
Gardner proved his elite-level play as a rookie was no fluke and that the Jets nailed their first-round pick in 2022.
Highest-graded coverage defender: Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears, 91.0
Johnson made the most of a contract year, delivering an absolutely stellar season. The Bears cornerback finished first in coverage grade and third in SCOE, and his all-around performance in coverage was a major factor for the Bears’ late-season postseason push. He allowed a passer rating of just 33.3 when targeted while allowing a minuscule 195 yards and 0.37 yards per cover snap.
Most forced incompletions: Benjamin St-Juste, Washington Commanders (21)
St-Juste was the fourth-most-targeted cornerback in the NFL and, as a result, had several opportunities to get his hands on the ball. He did so more than any other cornerback, even though his forced incompletion rate ranked 11th at his position. As a result of being heavily targeted, St-Juste also allowed the most first downs during the regular season.
Top-ranked in SCOE: Sauce Gardner, New York Jets and Kendall Fuller, Washington Commanders
We’ve already waxed poetic about Gardner and his amazing season, so now Fuller gets his due.
The Washington cornerback did his best to keep his defense together as he locked down opposing receivers week after week. His 82.8 coverage grade ranked ninth in the NFL, with his 21 pass stops good for third. While he did give up six touchdown passes, Fuller allowed just 13 first downs and produced the ninth-best first down/touchdown rate in the NFL.
Lowest completion percentage allowed (minimum five targets): Joey Porter Jr., Pittsburgh Steelers (41.4%)
The Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves a difference-maker at the top of the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, as the former Penn State Nittany Lion was a menace for opposing receivers.
Porter was targeted 58 times but allowed just 24 catches for 352 yards and one touchdown, with quarterbacks managing a passer rating of just 60.4 when throwing in his direction.
Most pass stops: Taron Johnson, Buffalo Bills (23)
Cornerbacks can’t always control the number of catches they allow. Sometimes, the scheme of the defense is to force a check down underneath a defender’s coverage area, and there are also times when the offense calls a screen pass.
However, what happens after that point is in the defender’s control. Johnson made the most of his situation and made tackles for defensive wins. His 5.0-yard average depth of target was third-lowest in the NFL, and he did an excellent job preventing separation downfield.
Lowest expected points added per target: Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears (-0.319)
Johnson allowing the fewest expected points added (EPA) per target shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone. After all, he gave up a completion rate of 46.3%, just eight first downs, one touchdown and 195 yards with four interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown). It was a special season for Johnson, who should be paid extremely well this offseason.
